The Zimbabwe rugby team, the Sables are ready to lock horns with Tunisia in an Africa Cup Group 1A encounter at Prince Edward School in Harare.
The team trained at the Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare the rest of the week and some players were returned from the squad that faced Kenya last month that consist of Captain Denford Mutamangira.
Sables coach, Cyprian Mandenge revealed that he does not read much into the opposition results after Tunisia were thumped by Kenya, but believes in working in his team’s weaknesses and he is much focused on the game at hand.
“We do not read much into the opposition, as we have to focus on our teams’ weaknesses and concentrate on the game at hand.
“We have been preparing the whole week and our team is ready for the Tunisia match, we also have introduced new players who were not in the Kenya match last month,” said Mandenge.
The Sables opened their campaign with a tricky home encounter agaist Kenya on June 13, were 29-20 victors over the East Africans, who proved to be well-drilled side following their in high-profile preparatory victory over Portugal on May 30.
Mandenge’s charges play another home tie against Tunisia, before finishing their campaign in Africa rugby’s top-tier competition with an away fixture against Namibia on August 15.
While no changes are expected in the front row, Mandenge will start with versatile forwards Njabulo and Biselele Tshamala as the twin locks ahead of Chipendo who struggled against Kenya.
Tunisia arrived in the capital on Tuesday from Kenya where they suffered a 46-15 defeat to Kenya in Nairobi on Sunday to almost confirm their relegation to the Division 1A after going down 14-22 to Namibia in their first encounter.
Zimbabwe has played the North Africans three times in 1990, 1998 and 2012 winning all three matches convincingly.
The last time the two teams met Zimbabwe comfortably won the encounter 14-30 enroute to winning their maiden Africa Cup crown in 2012.
The match will be refereed by American international rugby referee Kurt Weaver at Jubilee Field, barely a week after his first international assignment on the continent in Kenya on Sunday.
The Colorado-based referee, who has previously officiated in South Africa’s Vodacom Cup competition, took charge of his first international assignment in Africa during Kenya’s 46-15 win over Tunisia in Nairobi.
Sables starting XV against Tunisia
D.Mutamangira, R.Mwale, F Mudariki, B Tshamala, N Ndlovu, Mukondiwa, J Leitao, A Rose, C Jiji, T Chitokwindo, C Makotose, B Rouse, S Hunduza, T Nemadire
Replacements
N Nyemba, K Ngindi, L Cleminson, F Chipendu, H Mudarikiri, L Tambwera, S Makombe, Gardner Nechironga.
